"It'll be harder to remove the stains as time passes. I'll give them a quick wash, and Mrs. Rosie will throw them into the machine for a second wash. That'll do the trick," Jasper explained.He somehow managed to find a huge basin and a tiny stool. At that moment, he sat on the stool, his long legs bent while he scrubbed away at the bedsheet and the duvet.His tall and slender figure looked comical on the stool."Wow, Mr. Beckett, do you know how to do laundry?" Alyssa's eyes sparkled in surprise, almost like she had made a new discovery."I always know how to do laundry." It didn't take him long to scrub the blood stains out of the fabric. He flashed a faint grin at her. "How did you think I got my laundry done when I was in military school? It wasn't like I could hire Mrs. Rosie to work for me in the school."Admiring Jasper's efficiency in doing the laundry, she ran over and pressed her body against his back. Feeling touched, she wrapped her arms around his neck."Don't fool a
Jasper caressed Alyssa's head with a doting look. "Jameson might appear to have succeeded with ease, but we alone are aware of the people he sacrificed and the lengths he went to achieve his position."Alyssa gulped and squinted at him. "From the sounds of it, you seem quite understanding of Jamiper's trials and tribulations."He smiled helplessly. "No, that's not true. I'm merely taken aback by his ruthlessness.""He eliminated the three Schmidt siblings to claim the presidency of the Schmidt Group he desired. I shudder to think of his next move," Alyssa sighed, massaging her forehead."He's insatiable. Merely being president isn't enough for him. His end goal is to replace Victor as the chairman and rule over the entire company." He placed an arm around her waist and pulled her closer with a brooding look in his eyes. Jasper continued, "That's why Jameson Schmidt will not stop. He will be making his next move. As long as he's up to no good, he will give himself away, and we wil
Jonah stared blankly at Julien, even though he was emotionally affected. Did Julien really spend the entire time waiting for him? Jonah pondered whether Julien had truly foregone sleep and lingered by the door solely to catch a glimpse of him.He gathered his thoughts and clenched his fist. Julien pleaded, "Jonah, did I do or say something wrong? Tell me. Please." He could no longer stand Jonah's cold shoulder. His voice shook in nervousness as he attempted to hold Jonah's hand.Jonah suddenly took a step backward to dodge Julien's move. Julien felt a shiver down his spine. He called out, "Jonah…""Dr. Lovelace."Julien's eyes wavered upon hearing that. "What did you just call me?""Dr. Lovelace." This time, Jonah sounded more distant than before. He seemed to have reverted into the once arrogant eldest son of the Taylor family. "Thank you for your service. My dad's condition has stabilized. "You have been in Belbanks for a long time. You haven't had a chance to visit your f
Alyssa's hand froze midair. Her eyes reflected astonishment.Even though Alyssa was irked by Aidan's taunts, she appeared more emotionally composed than before, possibly due to being in love. She calmed down soon enough. However, Jasper was the one who couldn't take it. He took her hand and pulled her into a tight hug. Holding her shoulder, he addressed Aidan sternly, "Is that your family rule? I thought it was arrogance and conceitedness."Aidan furrowed his brows. "What did you say?""Am I wrong?" Jasper cast an intimidating look at him. "I don't care about the relationship between your family and hers. Lyse is a sensible and well-mannered woman. She wouldn't slight you if you didn't do it to her in the first place."You were rude to her just now. It's clear that you're the problem here. Mr. Lovelace, you're a senior to Lyse and a respectable man, but I'm appalled by your behavior."Alyssa lifted her gaze to stare at Jasper through tears. She fought the urge to give him a ki
Aidan called out, "Aunt Mandy."An oppressive silence hung in the living room. Mandy gritted her teeth as she laid her eyes on Aidan. He wore an amused expression.He did not courteously address her as "Aunt Mandy" to protect her ego; it was all to uphold his image and reputation as the eldest grandson of the Lovelace family."Grandpa hasn't been eating or drinking for two days after learning about what Julien had done. He is bedridden because of anger. You can imagine how furious he is now." Aidan's eyes were emotionless as he continued, "The last time Grandpa had an outburst of a similar extent was when you decided to be with Mr. Winston despite knowing he was a married man. You volunteered to be his mistress, tainting you and our family's reputations."Aidan had used the insulting word "mistress" to describe one of his family members. Mandy turned white but did not back down. She might no longer be a Lovelace, but she still carried a dignified air.Alyssa felt a stabbing pain
Aidan stopped dead in his tracks. The annoyed look crept up his face once more.Alyssa freed herself from Jasper's grip and stormed up to Aidan. In the next moment, she raised her hand in the air and slapped Aidan across his face twice with all her strength.Everyone's jaw dropped to the ground. Even Jasper and Aidan were caught off guard by her actions. Aidan finally processed the slap when he felt the burning sensation on his cheek, the ringing in his ear, and the blood trickling down from his lips."Alyssa Taylor!" Humiliated and furious, Aidan pressed a hand against his cheek. He gritted his teeth, looking as if he was about to go off at her.Seeing that, Jasper hurried over and pulled Alyssa into a protective hug. He shot a threatening glance at Aidan, successfully intimidating the latter. Aidan's heart skipped a beat under Jasper's glare. For a moment, he forgot about the pain on his cheek."The first slap was for Julien. I don't care about the state of your relationship w
Julien, after casting one final, loaded look at Alyssa, walked out of Heightsnew Villa without looking back.At the same time, Jonah stood tall beside the railing of the balcony on a higher floor. His grip on the railing tightened, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged.Pain surged through his body as he watched Julien walk away. Right after Aidan left the Heightsnew Villa grounds, he spat on the ground. His saliva was mixed with blood, which showed how hard Alyssa had slapped him in the face.He caught the fleeting, gleeful grin on Julien's lips. Staring hatefully at Julien, he gritted his teeth and hissed, "Laugh as much as you want now. You'll suffer when we get home to Grandpa and Dad."…Heightsnew Villa felt a little lonely and quiet without Julien around. "Where the heck was Winston when his wife was bullied by Aidan?" Alyssa suffered rage-induced cramps in her abdomen. "He should have taken the responsibility and dealt personally with his enemy!"Colene explai
After consoling Mandy, Alyssa and Jasper retired to their bedroom. After locking the door, she was about to start a discussion when he wrapped an arm around her waist and sealed her lips with a trembling kiss.Initially taken aback, Alyssa's surprise quickly turned into surrender as she closed her eyes, reciprocating the embrace and melting under his touch.He gently and cautiously scooped her in his arms, seemingly worried that she might turn to dust. They shared a fervent kiss, their bodies intertwining in the heat of the moment.The air grew warmer as the room filled with the sounds of Jasper's heavy breathing and Alyssa's soft moans. She could feel his presence enveloping her, sensing his skin beneath his shirt and succumbing to his kiss that consumed her almost entirely.After what seemed like an eternity, she felt her head spinning. He finally regained control of his desires and moved away from her. She whispered, "I… I'm on my period. We can't make love."Sensing his hard
The snow was falling heavily, and the chilling winds howled through the night.Remy had no car, so he trudged through the snow alone, each step more exhausting than the last.His thoughts were consumed with Alyssa—was she still alive? In danger? And Jasper's unrelenting resolve to reach her, even after being shot and drenched in blood.Remy pressed his calloused, trembling hand to his chest. His heart hammered in his ribcage erratically.A sharp, searing pain shot through his temples, blurring his vision. He collapsed to his knees in the snow, his body racked with agony. The pain surged deep within him, and his eyes felt like they were going to burst from their sockets. It was unbearable.His breath came in ragged gasps. His hands scrambled for the necklace hanging from his neck—inside it was a hidden medicine box.Justin had told him that the medication in there could calm him down and relieve him of any pain. It would be able to save his life. But in his desperate haste, the
As subtle as Remy's expressions were, Jasper still noticed them. A slight twinkle flashed across his eyes. He did not have the time to continue entertaining Remy. He clenched his teeth, turned around, and started running toward Crater Mountain. Nevertheless, he had barely taken a few steps when gunshots were fired at his feet. Even so, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead and did not stop. Just then, another gunshot rang out. It wasn't until a bullet hit him in his right shoulder that the pain caused him to stumble. He almost fell to the ground but forced himself to stay on his feet. It was fortunate that he was shot in his right shoulder this time. After all, his left shoulder could not be injured any further. Otherwise, his left shoulder would be left in complete disability."If you take another step, the next shot will be in your left leg," Remy warned mockingly. Yet, his gaze was firm and fiery. "Jasper, I don't suppose you want to end up like your older brother, living in
A chill went down Jasper's spine. At that moment, staring down the barrel of the gun, one thought consumed him. It was the only thought that mattered—he had to stay alive to meet Alyssa!Jasper's mind raced. His gun was hidden under the driver's seat of his usual car, but today, he had taken a different sports car—one that wasn't equipped with a weapon. Panic gripped him for a split second before his instincts kicked in.The soldier within him stirred. Without warning, he jerked the steering wheel, ramming his car into Remy's.One of Remy's headlights was taken out and left rolling across the snow. All of a sudden, this prideful man was overwhelmed with anger. His eyes reddened with a strong sense of competitiveness, compelling him to pull the trigger. A shot rang out. The bullet sliced through the cold air, shattering Jasper's car window.From the very beginning, Remy hadn't intended to take Jasper's life. All Justin told him to do was to stop Jasper from meeting with Alys
"Jasper, you are such a jerk. If anything bad happens to Ms. Alyssa, you will surely regret it. You will live in regret your entire life!" Sean yelled. …The temperature tonight was -4 degrees Fahrenheit. The snowstorm in the woods on the mountain was getting stronger and stronger. The winds were freezing and bone-piercing as they blew against Alyssa's face. Trees swayed dramatically in the screeching winds, creating an inexplicable creepy atmosphere that added a feeling of desolation to Alyssa's sorrowful and depressive mood. She braved the bone-piercing winds and faced the heavy snowfall. With the help of her trekking pole, she plodded forward one step at a time. She did not have a destination in mind. She did not know where she was heading. Her heart had shattered, and she was beside herself. The decreasing temperatures discouraged her and made her lose all her motivation. For someone who had lost their willpower, being in the woods under extreme weather conditions wa
"Mr. Jasper, why do you say so?" Sheryl lifted her head and looked into Jasper's reddened eyes. She furrowed her brows and laughed out loud. "White Dove is from Solana City. This is also something that I wasn't able to predict. If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten you to make a trip here in vain, would I?" Sheryl was no longer that conniving bitch who used to act coy. Now, she had a powerful person backing her up. Jasper's violent rage did not scare her at all. "Why the hell didn't you say anything earlier?" Xavier marched forward furiously. He was even more inclined to serve her a slap. "Did you know that Mr. Beckett had an important date with Madam today? He only rushed her because of your stupid lead! Right now, you're telling us that White Dove isn't in Skydon but Solana City? What the heck are you scheming? Were you trying to ruin Mr. Beckett and Madam's date intentionally?" "Madam? Haven't Mr. Jasper and Ms. Alyssa broken up? Is it right for you to be referring to her
The skies started to turn dark. Alyssa's dark hair was covered in a layer of snow. As she stood alone at the foot of the majestic mountain, she looked tiny, fragile, and desolate. "Ms. Alyssa, it's snowing. Heavy snowfall is forecasted tonight." Elias walked to Alyssa's side. Noticing the redness on her face due to the cold and the dull look in her eyes, he had a moment of realization. He couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness within him. "It's getting late. I suppose something came up for Mr. Beckett, and he's unable to make it." "Why didn't he inform me if that is the case?" Alyssa mumbled in a low voice as she gazed toward the darkness. She choked back on her tears so softly that her grievance couldn't really be heard through her voice. Elias slapped himself on his forehead. "Ah, perhaps you didn't manage to receive Mr. Beckett's message? The reception at the foot of the mountain isn't quite stable. You might have missed it. Would you like to come to my office? You'l
Jasper held his breath. It felt as if his legs had been chained together. He was unable to move. Looking at a stiff Jasper from behind, Xavier noticed his shoulders trembling slightly. An ominous feeling rose within him. "What did you say?" Jasper questioned. He sounded as if he was forcing himself to hold himself back from getting emotional. "Mr. Justin once mentioned that you were saved by a female doctor when you were badly wounded on the battlefield many years ago. I heard that you have been searching for her and that you've been grateful toward her." Jasper's back stiffened up. He narrowed his eyes and asked in a frosty voice, "This is a private matter. Why would Justin have told you about it?" "Mr. Justin mentioned it to me because I also used to work as a doctor in Luminara. He was hoping that I could help with finding that woman. "I finally have news on her whereabouts now. Mr. Jasper, don't you want to see the White Dove again? She was the person who gave her all t
That night, Alyssa stayed in the presidential suite of Solana City's KS World Hotel. She couldn't bring herself to return to her own manor—not yet. The lingering memories of her breakup with Jasper were still too raw, and the thought of revisiting their former home felt like reopening an unhealed wound.The following morning, she was awakened by a knock at the door. Groggily, she slipped on her night robe and opened it to find Sean standing there, carrying a complete set of brand-new hiking gear.Alyssa smiled. "Thank you, Sean." "Ms. Alyssa, it's freezing today. Are you sure you want to go hiking?" Sean walked into the living room and placed the items neatly on the couch. He still felt somewhat worried. "It's alright if it's cold, as long as the weather is good."Alyssa gazed out the window. The sun was shining brightly. The thought of going hiking with Jasper today made it impossible for her to conceal the sweet smile on her face and the delight in her eyes. She still love
Remy's eyes were bloodshot; his expression twisted with disgust as he stared at Sheryl. He could hardly fathom how someone so deranged and vile had once been close to Jasper. Even if Jasper and Alyssa had separated, Sheryl was nowhere near worthy of Jasper's side; she was not even fit to be the dirt on Alyssa's shoes.A sudden flash of memory struck him—the image of Alyssa during that traffic accident. He recalled her mustering all her strength to crawl out of her wrecked car, her face bloody, her body broken yet defiant. He had never seen such a fierce spirit in a woman before.His heart pounded uncontrollably, the memory triggering a sharp pain in his temples. Remy closed his eyes, gasping for breath.Sheryl broke into wild, unhinged laughter. Her entire body shook as she spat out her words, "Oh, Jasper, you poor, clueless fool!"If he ever discovers that the woman he's been tormenting all this time is actually his savior—the one he's been desperate to repay—that would be an eart